Adjustable Interlaced Drying Rollers for Print Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dryers in printing systems face challenges in ensuring uniform drying of print media, as excessive heat can cause charring or burning, while insufficient heat leads to ink smearing or offsetting, and non-uniform thermal stresses result in curling or wrinkling of the media.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of adjustable interlacing of drying rollers, where a series of rollers transport the web in a weaving pattern, allowing for precise control of heat application by adjusting the distance and position of heated rollers relative to each other, enabling varying degrees of heat contact and reducing thermal stresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a great deal of heat is applied over a short period of time to dry the print media, then the drying speed is improved, but the media may char or burn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying speedVSAvoidcharring or burning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drying system is divided into multiple rollers (first rollers and second rollers) that can be independently positioned and controlled. This segmentation allows the heat application to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated in one location, enabling faster drying while preventing localized overheating that causes charring or burning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rollers are made adjustable and movable relative to each other, allowing dynamic control of the drying process. The system can adjust the distance and positioning of rollers during operation to optimize heat distribution, preventing both insufficient drying and excessive heat application that leads to media damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If too little heat is applied to the print media, then the media is not damaged, but ink smearing or offsetting occurs that reduces print quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia damageVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different rollers can be positioned at different distances from the media and have different heating characteristics. This allows localized heat application tailored to specific requirements - sufficient heat at contact points to prevent ink smearing while avoiding excessive heat that would damage the media. The interlacing arrangement creates zones of different thermal intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If high rates of thermal exchange are applied to dry the media quickly, then the drying efficiency is improved, but curling or wrinkling of the media occurs due to non-uniform stresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidmedia stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation into multiple rollers distributed across the media path creates multiple, distributed heat application points. This distributes the thermal stresses across many locations rather than concentrating them, preventing the formation of large-scale non-uniform stresses that cause curling or wrinkling while maintaining high drying efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable, movable rollers allow dynamic adaptation to the media's drying needs. The system can adjust roller positions and heating intensity in real-time to maintain uniform stress distribution throughout the drying process, preventing media deformation while maximizing drying speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures more controlled and efficient drying of the print media, preventing issues like smearing, offsetting, curling, and wrinkling, thereby enhancing print quality and media stability.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of which is configured to conduct heat from a heat source, and dry a web of print media as the web travels over a front side of the first rollers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a movement mechanism that reduces the distance between the second rollers and the first rollers to cause the second rollers to occupy spaces between the first rollers so that the web traveling in the second direction contacts a back side of the first rollers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement:

Data Source

PatentUS11168940B2Adjustable interlacing of drying rollers in a print system

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

Systems and methods for adjustable interlacing of drying rollers in a print system. One system is an apparatus that includes first rollers that conduct heat from a heat source, and dry a web of print media as the web travels over a front side of the first rollers in a first direction. A last roller of the first rollers turns the web in a second direction. The apparatus also includes second rollers disposed a distance above the first rollers and that transport the web in the second direction. The apparatus further includes a movement mechanism that reduces the distance between the second rollers and the first rollers to cause the second rollers to occupy spaces between the first rollers so that the web traveling in the second direction contacts a back side of the first rollers to further dry the web.